Process for the preparation of polymeric compositions

Abstract

Described herein is a process for the polymerization of a reactive monomer derived from the reaction product of a hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate and a lactone with other ethylenically unsaturated monomers. The resulting polymeric compositions can be made into high quality industrial finishes by incorporation of various conventional crosslinking agents, plus other normally used formulating ingredients.

We claim: 
     
       1. A process for preparing a polymeric composition comprising polymerizing one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers with a composition comprising: (a) 0 to 10 weight percent of a lactone;   (b) greater than 0 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate;   (c) 2 or less weight percent of diacrylates;   (d) 10 or less weight percent of products resulting from Michael addition, acrylic polymerization, transesterification reactions, or other side reactions;   (e) remainder to 100 weight percent of a reactive monomer of the following formula: ##STR4##  wherein R, R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are independently hydrogen or methyl, R 4  and R 5  are independently hydrogen or alkyl of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, x is from 4 to 7, and both n and the average value of n in the composition are equal to or greater than 1; and   (f) less than about 100 parts per million of catalyst.   
     
     
       2. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers are selected from the group consisting of styrene, n-butyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, acrylic acid, ethyl acrylate, t-butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, decyl acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate. 
     
     
       3. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lactone in (a) is epsilon-caprolactone. 
     
     
       4. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate in (b) is hydroxyethyl acrylate or methacrylate. 
     
     
       5. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lactone in (a) is present in a concentration of from 0 to 5 weight percent. 
     
     
       6. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate in (b) is present in a concentration of less than 10 weight percent. 
     
     
       7. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the diacrylates in (c) are present in a concentration of 1 or less weight percent. 
     
     
       8. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the products resulting from Michael addition, acrylic polymerization, transesterification reactions or other side reactions in (d) are present in a concentration of 5 or less weight percent. 
     
     
       9. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the reactive monomer of (e), R, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5  are hydrogen, x is five and the average value of n is two. 
     
     
       10. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the reactive monomer of (e), the average value of n is 1 to 12. 
     
     
       11. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in the reactive monomer of (e), the average value of n is 2 to 3. 
     
     
       12. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers are present at a concentration of from about 5 to about 90 weight percent and the composition comprising (a) through (f) is present at a concentration of from about 90 to about 5 weight percent. 
     
     
       13. The polymeric composition prepared according to the process of claim 1. 
     
     
       14. A process for preparing a crosslinked polymeric composition comprising: (1) polymerizing one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers with a composition comprising: (a) 0 to 10 weight percent of a lactone;   (b) greater than 0 weight percent to about 20 weight percent of hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate;   (c) 2 or less weight percent of diacrylates;   (d) 10 or less weight percent of products resulting from Michael addition, acrylic polymerizaton, transesterification reactions, or other side reactions;   (e) remainder to 100 weight percent of a reactive monomer of the following formula: ##STR5##  wherein R, R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  are independently hydrogen or methyl, R 4  and R 5  are independently hydrogen or alkyl of from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, x is from 4 to 7, and both n and the average value of n in the composition are equal to or greater than 1; and   (f) less than about 100 parts per million of catalyst; and     (2) crosslinking the polymeric composition of (1) with an isocyanate resin or a resin selected from the group consisting of melamine formaldehydes, urea formaldehydes and benzoguanamine formaldehydes.   
     
     
       15. A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers are selected from the group consisting of styrene, n-butyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, decyl acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate. 
     
     
       16. A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the lactone in (a) is epsilon-caprolactone. 
     
     
       17. A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate in (b) is hydroxyethyl acrylate or methacrylate. 
     
     
       18. A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the lactone in (a) is present in a concentration of from 0 to 5 weight percent. 
     
     
       19. A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the hydroxyalkyl acrylate or methacrylate in (b) is present in a concentration of less than 10 weight percent. 
     
     
       20. A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the diacrylates in (c) are present in a concentration of 1 or less weight percent. 
     
     
       21. A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the products resulting from Michael addition, acrylic polymerization, transesterification reactions or other side reactions in (d) are present in a concentration of 5 or less weight percent. 
     
     
       22. A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein, in the reactive monomer of (e), R, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4  and R 5  are hydrogen, x is five and the average value of n is two. 
     
     
       23. A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein, in the reactive monomer of (e), the average value of n is 1 to 12. 
     
     
       24. A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein, in the reactive monomer of (e), the average value of n is 2 to 3. 
     
     
       25. A process as claimed in claim 14 wherein the one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers are present at a concentration of from about 5 to about 90 weight percent, the composition comprising (a) through (f) is present at a concentration of from about 90 to about 5 weigt percent and the isocyanate resin or amino resin is present at a concentration of from about 5 to about 50 weight percent. 
     
     
       26. The crosslinked polymeric composition prepared according to the process of claim 14.